Governor Andy Beshear is giving Kentuckians an incentive to get the COVID-19 vaccine, while reporting 270 new cases of COVID-19 Monday.
That brings the overall total of cases since the pandemic began at 433,352, and the positivity rate jumped back up to 3.16 percent, which Governor Beshear believes indicates that the state is entering a plateauing of new cases.
Beshear announced he will lift many restrictions on bars, restaurants and other businesses when at least 2.5 million Kentuckians have received at least one dose of vaccine.
Currently, just over 1.5 million Kentuckians have received at least one dose of vaccine. Beshear says the goal could be reached in as little as three weeks. Realistically, he says, it will be 4-to-6 weeks.
Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack says this is the state’s ‘exit plan’, giving people a chance to look forward to a near normal summer this year and a future without COVID hanging over everyone’s heads. Not only that, he says, but the vaccines will help keep you and your loved ones healthy. The governor also reported seven new deaths, putting that total at 6,257.
The Tennessee Department of Health reported 640 new coronavirus cases, along with three deaths—the positivity rate in the Volunteer State is at 7.25 percent.